Middle East: Dive In reveals sector's views on cross generational working
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Nov 2020
The Middle East edition of the Dive In festival, with its theme ‘The future of the insurance sector: Is age just a number?’, ran an online poll for all attendees seeking opinions about cross generational working. The poll found that:
- 43% of all respondents consider financial rewards as the most important aspect of job satisfaction, with all age brackets from 20 to 66 years old evenly represented;
- 32% of all respondents consider flexi working as the most important aspect of job satisfaction, with the 20 to 40 age brackets representing a higher proportion of this at 65%;
- 17% of all respondents consider qualifications attainment as the most important aspect of job satisfaction, with the 41 plus age brackets representing the highest proportion of this figure at 68%;
- 45% of all respondents prefer face-to-face client meetings, with virtual meetings preferred by 20%, with the 20 to 40 age brackets representing the highest proportion of this figure at 71%; and
- 45% of all respondents believe that any propensity for age discrimination is on those in the 66 plus age bracket.
Dive In has become a well-established global festival since its inception and represents a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures. The Middle East virtual event included a panel featuring professionals representing a variety of age brackets discuss a series of thought-provoking issues.
Key takeaways from the event include:
- Age diverse teams outperform other teams in terms of productivity and profitability;
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, close working collaboration of younger and more mature professionals improved, with digital operations a focus;
- The importance of attracting young, dynamic talent to the sector through offering incentives including flexibility and a cooperative working environment; and
- The potential benefits for all employees of tailored incentive packages, which can take into account their lifestyle and evolving personal needs.
CII regional director Gaenor Jones said, “The general theme of Dive In this year was ‘Authenticity and perspective’, and the Middle East event certainly reflected very well on those values. It was really interesting to hear different opinions and anecdotes from people representing both older and younger age groups. It was also extremely encouraging to see that the consensus of opinion about cross generational working was very positive and highly valued by all age brackets, with all panellists agreeing that this applied to both individuals and the organisation. The poll revealed that 45% of attendees believe that age discrimination is more likely applicable to those aged over 66 – clearly there is some work to be done in educating professionals about the great contribution, through both life and work experience, that senior stalwarts bring to the sector.”
Now in its sixth year, the global Dive In Festival is still gaining new audiences. This year, 70% of its 12,000 attendees were there for the first time, indicating a shift in attitudes towards the importance of diversity and inclusion. The Middle East event was oversubscribed and now available to view through the CII’s LinkedIn platform. M